In addition, the Patriots signed wide receiver Tiquan Underwood and safety Ross Ventrone. Underwood, 6-foot-1, 183 pounds, is a veteran of two NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was released by Jacksonville on August 25. Underwood originally entered the NFL as a seventh round draft choice (253rd overall) by Jacksonville in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Rutgers. After beginning his rookie season on the practice squad, he joined the 53-man roster and appeared in three games, mainly on special teams. Last season, he played in 10 games and caught eight passes for 111 yards and returned 24 kicks for 561 yards, including a career-long of 53 yards in the season-opener vs. Denver (9/12).

“He’s a later draft choice ‘ a player that I think is improving,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said on Monday. “Obviously he didn’t make [the Jaguars’] roster, but we felt like we might have a chance — well we do have a chance now to take a look at him. And so we’ll see what that looks like. Good sized receiver. Played with [Kenny] Britt at Rutgers. He hasn’t had a lot of playing time and production in the NFL, but he’s had some.”

Ventrone, 5-foot-8, 190 pounds, was originally signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Villanova on April 29, 2010. He was waived by the Patriots on Sept. 4, 2010 and then signed to the practice squad on Oct. 19, 2010 where he finished the season. Ventrone went to camp with the Patriots in 2011 before being released on August 10.